Author: Gulf News Week

Indonesia says it barred Israeli gymnasts from the global event to maintain ‘public order and security’.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged global sports federations not to host any sporting events in Indonesia after it banned Israeli gymnasts from the ongoing Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, a decision the host nation said it took to “maintain public order”.The IOC’s executive board issued a statement on Wednesday saying it has recommended that world sports bodies cease holding events in Indonesia.Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, denied visas to Israeli gymnasts earlier this month amid Israel’s genocide in Gaza, meaning they…

Satellite imagery shows Israel holds about 40 active military positions beyond the yellow line.Satellite imagery analysis by media’s fact-checking agency Sanad shows that the Israeli army holds about 40 active military positions in the part of the Gaza Strip outside the yellow line, the invisible boundary established under the first phase of the ceasefire to which its troops had to move, according to the deal.The images also show that Israel is upgrading several of these facilities, which help it maintain its occupation of 58 percent of Gaza even after the pullback by troops to the yellow line.While the majority of…

Saudi Arabia’s status as home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina means grand mufti’s pronouncements are closely watched.Saudi Arabia has named Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan as the country’s new grand mufti, the kingdom’s top religious scholar.The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that King Salman appointed the 90-year-old to the position late on Wednesday, based on a recommendation from his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2Saudi fund, Kushner’s firm to buy games maker Electronic Arts in $55bn deallist 2 of 2Saudi Arabia down Indonesia; Qatar, Oman draw in AFC World Cup…

Group of 27 Congress members call for release of Mohammed Ibrahim, 16, held in Israeli detention for eight months.A group of United States lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to secure the release of a 16-year-old Palestinian American who has been held in Israeli detention centres for eight months.In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, 27 members of the US Congress called for the release of Mohammed Ibrahim amid reports that he faces abusive conditions in detention.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Cold cells, meagre meals: Palestinian American…

Political rivals blame each other as Iranians are further squeezed by sanctions that are unlikely to be lifted soon.Tehran, Iran – As reinstated sanctions bite and the persistent chance of renewed war with Israel lingers, authorities in Iran are adopting a defiant posture, but one that masks a jockeying for influence within the ruling establishment.United Nations sanctions were reimposed this month by European powers through the “snapback” mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Negotiations between Iran and the E3 – France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – were not successful in preventing the reintroduction of the sanctions, and…

The official, Akram Salloum al-Abdullah, is accused of executing detainees, and other ‘serious violations’.Syrian authorities have said they had arrested a former military official accused of executing detainees at the notorious Sednaya prison during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.In a statement on Wednesday, the interior ministry said the Damascus province’s counterterrorism branch arrested Major General Akram Salloum al-Abdullah.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3The Church of England owes Zimbabwe more than an apologylist 2 of 3ICJ says Israel must allow aid into blockaded Gaza, provide ‘basic needs’list 3 of 3Israel’s parliament advances bill to annex occupied…

ICJ states that Israel must allow aid into Gaza, ensuring food, water, medicine, and shelter for the Palestinian population.The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued an advisory opinion saying that Israel must support United Nations relief efforts in Gaza, including those conducted by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), regarding Israel’s legal responsibilities towards UN agencies and other international organisations operating in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.The court found that Israel’s allegations against UNRWA – including that it had been complicit in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel – were unsubstantiated.Recommended…

The bill passed 25-24, despite opposition from PM Netanyahu, in the first of four votes it will face to become law.Israel’s parliament has voted to give preliminary approval to a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty on the occupied West Bank, in a move tantamount to annexation of the Palestinian territory, which would be a blatant violation of international law.Despite opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party, lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset voted 25-24 on Tuesday to advance the bill, in the first of four votes needed to pass it into law.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist…

In its advisory opinion, the UN’s top court says Israel must support UN institutions, including UNRWA, with aid efforts.The United Nations court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has said Israel has an obligation to ensure the “basic needs” of the population in Gaza are met.The panel of 11 judges said on Wednesday that Israel is forced to support the relief efforts provided by the United Nations in the bombarded Gaza Strip and its entities.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Paris’s Louvre Museum reopens after $102m jewel heistlist 2 of 3NYC working-class Muslims see progress in Mamdani, but…

Israel continues to hold 80 Palestinian doctors and medical workers from Gaza and 15 from the occupied West Bank.More doctors and healthcare professionals are mobilising and calling for action to demand the release of Dr Hussam Abu Safia and at least 94 other Palestinian medics currently held captive by Israeli authorities.On Monday, in an event organised by Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW) and Amnesty International UK, doctors and healthcare workers protested outside St Thomas’ Hospital in central London, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all the detained healthcare workers currently held in appalling conditions in Israel.The protest comes just…